Source(s)

Description:
Consistent with the rapid retreat of sea ice, the surface waters of the Arctic Ocean have been warming in recent years, because declining sea-ice cover allows the water to absorb more heat from the sun.

Anomalies in Northern Hemisphere Snow CoverSnow cover extent has continued to decline and is projected to decline further, despite the projected increase in winter snowfall in some areas.

By Riccardo Pravettoni, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

Average sea level 1900-2009Sea-level rise is accelerating.

By Laura Margueritte

Concentration ExtentReduced sea ice amplifies warming.

By Laura Margueritte

East Siberian Arctic ShelfThe degradation of arctic sub-sea permafrost is already releasing methane from the massive, frozen, undersea carbon pool and more is expected with further warming.

By Laura Margueritte

Gas ArcticThe temperature regime of sub-sea permafrost is determined by the annual temperature of the surrounding seawater, just like the thermal regime of terrestrial permafrost is determined by the arctic surface temperature.

By Laura Margueritte

Methane in Air Above Water SurfaceMixing ratio of methane in the air above the water surface measured along a ship’s route in September 2005. The dotted line shows the Latitude-specific monthly average of 1.85 parts per million by volume established for ...

By Riccardo Pravettoni, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

South West Greenland Ocean TemperatureInitially, meltwater was assumed to be the prime cause of glacier acceleration, making its way to the ground beneath ice sheets, lubricating it and causing the glaciers to flow more quickly to the sea.